David and Goliath: Victory Over the Antichrist
They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love
their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11)
I saw...those who have the victory over the beast (Antichrist), over his image and over his mark and over the
number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)
I will make an everlasting covenant with you-- the sure mercies of David. 4 Indeed I have given him as a
witness to the people...(Isaiah 55:3-4)
I will give you shepherds according to My heart...(Jeremiah 3:15)
I. THE STORY BEHIND THE SCENES
A. This is an account of actual events that took place in Israel’s history. The issue at stake was the slavery and
destruction of Israel through Goliath the giant, who speaks the great enemy of God’s people.
B. In David’s generation, the Philistines were the most advanced enemy. Only with God’s supernatural power would the
Israelites be able to triumph. Only warriors with a life and history in the power of God would be suited for this hour. God
prepared David for such a time at that and even now, He is raising up young Davids for the greatest showdown in history.
The saints can only withstand and overcome the international giant called the Antichrist with supernatural power.
1. A national crisis suddenly erupted against Israel which could not be answered by any of Israel’s political or
military means. Goliath, the mighty champion appeared unstoppable and by human agency he was.
2. The Philistines discovered iron before the Israelites did, therefore, they had the ability to make iron weapons
(which were very rare in Israel). This gave the Philistines a tremendous advantage in battle over Israel.
3. The outcome of this battle would determine Israel’s future.
C. This most significant national crisis for Israel is a clear prophetic foreshadowing of the Antichrist’s coalition of nations
that afflict the whole earth (Revelation 13).
D. The applications of this conflict for us today.
1. The struggle of the Church against the enemy through history.
2. The conflict and victory of the End-Time Church.
E. The four categories of people in the conflict (taken from Reinhard Bonnke)
1. Ex-anointed professional – Saul (picture of leaders who lost the fire of the Spirit)
2. Un-anointed professionals – Saul’s army (picture of ministries without power)
3. Anti-anointed – Goliath (as a picture of the Antichrist)
4. Anointed non-professional – David (picture of those anointed in worship and prayer)
F. The story is what happened in 1 Samuel 16, when the Holy Spirit came mightily upon David from that day forward"
(1 Samuel 16:13). David experiences God’s power in a sudden way that establishes him in national prominence.
II. DAVID’S PROPHETIC INSIGHT INTO THE ARMAGEDDON CAMPAIGN (PSALM 2)
A. The nations defy God through history culminating at Armageddon (Psalm 2:1-3).
Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the
rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us break their bonds
in pieces and cast away their cords from us." (Psalm 2:1-3)
For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the
women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from
the city. 3 Then the LORD will go forth And fight against those nations, As He fights in the day of battle.
(Zechariah 14:1-3)
B. God mocks the nations who dare to oppose Him and Jesus (Psalm 2:4-6).
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them
in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 "Yet I have set My King (Jesus) on My holy hill of
Zion (Jerusalem after the Second Coming)." (Psalm 2:4-6)
C. Jesus uses intercession to take possession of each area of each city of each nation (Psalm 2:7-9).
“I will declare the decree: The LORD (Father) has said to Me (Jesus), 'You are My Son, today I have begotten
You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your
possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"
(Psalm 2:7-9)
D. David warns the nations (Psalm 2:10- 12).
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and
rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled
but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2:10-12)
III. FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
A. I want to emphasize two messages in 1 Samuel 17. First, what God will do through His people in times of the most
intense conflicts with the kingdom of darkness that have ever occurred in history. Second, what lifestyle is necessary if we
are to develop spiritually in the way David did, long before the battle becomes fierce? 1 Samuel 17 depicts the principles of
victory in life of David as a young worshipping intercessor.
B. The message today, is that we must go deep in God in intimacy and intercession. We like David, must cultivate a
history in God before the international crisis comes. Today, the issue is in getting the personal struggles in our life under the
Lordship of Jesus.
C. Principle: we will face the international corporate battle with darkness in much the same way that we face our private
battles with compromise, passivity. In other words, whatever we do now, good or bad, we will do it more intense in the future
crisis.
D. Today, the Church is not entrenched in fear because these are still the days of ease. The Church is in the comfort
zone with little to fear at this point. The main battle front today is spiritual passively and seeking comfort, yet it will
change drastically as the confrontation with Antichrist government emerges.
E. The unprecedented crisis is spiritual in nature, thus only spiritual weapons will prevail. However, the dilemma is that
it takes spiritual people to operate in spiritual weapons.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing
that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of
Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)
F. Jesus rules the earth by the House of Prayer in Jerusalem.
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer...for My House shall
be called a House of Prayer for all nations. (Isaiah 56:7)
He said to me, "Son of man, this (Millennial Temple) is the place of My Throne...where I will dwell in the midst
of the children of Israel forever.” (Ezekiel 43:7)
He (Jesus) always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
IV. THE CONFLICT WITH GOLIATH INTRODUCED (1 SAMUEL 17:1-11)
A. The Philistines invade Judah at Sochoh (1 Samuel 17:1-3).
The Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered together at Sochoh, ...2 And Saul
and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah (14 miles southwest of
Jerusalem), and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one
side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. (1 Samuel 17:1-3)
B. The description of Goliath, their champion (1 Samuel 17:4-7)
A champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits
and a span (nearly 10 feet). 5 He had a bronze helmet...a coat of mail and the weight...was 5,000 shekels of
bronze (120 pounds). 6 He had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin 7...his iron spearhead weighed
600 shekels (15 pounds)...(1 Samuel 17:4-7)
1. The giants were the sons of Anak from Numbers 13:32-33. Joshua killed them all, except for the giants who
lived in the cities around Gath. Thus, Israel did not fully destroy the giants as God commanded them to, so, now 500
years later, David is still dealing with them.
Joshua came and cut off the Anakim...from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of
Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities. 22 None of the Anakim were left in the land of the
children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. (Joshua 11:21-22)
2. Goliath’s great size points to the great power of the Antichrist with the strong armor (Luke 11:22!)
C. Goliath defies Israel (1 Samuel 17:8-11) – creating fear, despair and hopelessness in Israel.
He...cried out to the armies of Israel..., "Why have you come out to line up for battle?...Choose a man...and
let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to...kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I...kill him, then you
shall be our servants and serve us." 10 The Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man,
that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words...they were dismayed and greatly
afraid. (1 Samuel 17:8-11)
1. Goliath accused Israel, ‘Why have you even come to battle? You have no hope. Why even go through the motions?
You know you are going to lose. In other words, the spirit of despair or a hopeless spirit settled on Israel.
2. Today, some say, “Is it worth the hassle? We will probably never break through anyway.” Why not just accept the
fact that our heart is dull and cold and our lives are powerless. Why bother to line up in battle array to contend for way things
to drastically change?
V. DAVID ACCEPTS GOLIATH'S CHALLENGE (I SAMUEL 17:12-39)
A. Jesse sends David to the Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:12-23).
David was the son of...Jesse, and who had eight sons...13 The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone to follow
Saul to the battle...Eliab the firstborn, next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah. 14 David was the
youngest...15 David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 The
Philistine...presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 17 Jesse said to...David, "Take now for your
brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp
(approximately 7 miles from Bethlehem)...19 Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah,
fighting with the Philistines. 20 David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the
things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the
fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against
army. 22 David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his
brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name,
coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them.
(1 Samuel 17:12-23)
B. Israel is overwhelmed with fear, yet David is provoked with courage (1 Samuel 17:24-25). Fear will be the main issue
that dominates the human race in the End-Times (Luke 21:26).
All the men of Israel...fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this
man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the
king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from
taxes in Israel." (1 Samuel 17:24-25)
They worshiped the dragon (Satan) who gave authority to the beast (Antichrist)...saying, "Who is like the
beast? Who is able to make war with him?" (Revelation 13:4)
Men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth
(Luke 21:26)
C. David is rebuked by his jealous older brother Eliab (1 Samuel 17:26-30).
David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine
and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the
armies of the living God?"...28 Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke...and Eliab's anger was aroused
against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in
the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle."
29 David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" (1 Samuel 17:26-30)
1. Is there not a cause to get up out of our beds and give ourselves to God in an extraordinary way?
2. Is there not a cause that is worthy of extraordinary lifestyles before God? I challenge you, is there not a
cause? Is there not something worth paying a price to live differently in this generation?
D. David asks Saul for permission to fight Goliath. God gives His people private personal victories before He releases
national victories. (1 Samuel 17:31-37).
When the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 David said
to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 Saul said
to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine...for you are a youth..." 34 David said to Saul, "Your
servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,
35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I
caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this
uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 David
said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me
from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!" (1 Samuel 17:31-37)
E. David refused Saul’s armor-he refused to walk in another man’s calling (1 Samuel 17:38-39).
Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he clothed him with a coat of
mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor, and he tried to walk, for he had not tested them. David said
to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off. (1 Samuel 17:38-39)
1. Saul armed David with his own armor thinking that David needed more of what Saul relied on (natural
strength). Saul’s amour was best in all Israel, but the battle was spiritual in nature not natural (economic, military,
political). Saul is sincere and well meaning as he gives David his amour. However, Saul’s amour could not get the
job done, so why would it be adequate for David?
2. The professional titles, achievements and degrees and ceremonies do not move angels and demons. The
lifestyle of intercession with fasting is the ultimate in relying on divine strength and thus leaning into intimacy.
3. Saul is a picture of a leader who is mighty in the flesh and impressive in man’s court. Saul was a head and
shoulders higher than others (9:2). Abner was captain of the army (14:50) and a "valiant soldier" (26:15), but much
more was needed in this extreme crisis. They knew this and thus both drew back from Goliath’s challenge.
4. David takes Saul's armor off and proceeds in the confidence that he had in God’s grace on his life. He wanted
to go to war with what was proven in his history in God.
VI. DAVID FIGHTS GOLIATH (I SAMUEL 17:40-58)
A. David defies Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40).
Then he (David) took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook...and
he drew near to the Philistine. 41 The Philistine...began drawing near to David...42 When the Philistine...saw
David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth...43 The Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come
to me with sticks?" The Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and
I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!" 45 David said to the Philistine, "You
come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of
hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my
hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. This day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the
Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a
God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the
battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:40-47)
1. God will crush the head of Satan through Jesus’ victory at the cross.
God said...,“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed (Jesus);
He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel (at the cross)." (Genesis 3:15)
2. God will feed the Antichrist’s armies to the birds of the air at the Armageddon campaign.
I saw an angel...saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather together for
the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains...and the flesh
of all people...small and great." (Revelation 19:17-18)
3. David spoke of the final implication of this battle as it will occur again in the end-of-the-age, so all the earth
may know that there is a God in Israel. Ps. 2 was possibly written just before or after this epic event.
B. David kills Goliath who fell on his face to the earth (1 Samuel 17:48).
Philistine. 49 David...took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead...and he fell
on his face to the earth. 50 David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the
Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 David...stood over the Philistine,
took his sword….cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they
fled. 52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines... 54 David took the
head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. (1 Samuel 17:48-54)
1. Our intercession is as “slinging stones” in the Spirit to hit the head of the enemy.
2. We can be bold that we have the weapons that strike the giant with force.
C. Saul now inquires about David’s family lineage and history (1 Samuel 17:55-58).
When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, "Abner,
whose son is this youth?" Abner said, "...O king, I do not know." 57 Then, as David returned from the
slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in
his hand. 58 Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant
Jesse the Bethlehemite." (1 Samuel 17:55-58)